Get Jacked!

Dear Joe,
My gym doesn’t have one of those fancy jacks for loading/unloading the bar when I deadlift, and it can be a real pain in the ass – especially when it’s loaded with 45lb plates. Is there an easy way to make one at home?

Signed,A dead-tired dead-lifterSalt Lake City, UT

*****
Dear “Dead”,
Sure, anyone could pull out a blowtorch and an arc welder and whip something up, but a much easier solution is to use a 2.5lb plate as a weight changing platform.

Let’s say you have 5 plates on each side. Set the 2.5 on the floor right in front of the innermost 45lb plate. Now all you need to do is roll the whole thing on top of it. All but the inside plate are now hanging free about 1/4″ off the ground and removal is a snap. Repeat on the other side.

So this technique will be most effective, DO NOT remove the innermost 45 until you’ve taken off all the outer plates from both sides.

And while we’re at it, here’s a handy tip to help you remember the correct way to set the table for your post-workout meal: “Fork” and “left” both have 4 letters. “Knife”, “spoon” and “right” all have 5. Remember this and you’ll never be embarrased in front of your more ‘proper’ gym buddies again.